(to himself) Who are these country
bumpkins swaggering around so close to where the fairy queen is
sleeping? What? Are they about to put on a play? I’ll
watch. And I’ll act in it, too, if I feel like it.

QUINCE

Speak, Pyramus.—Thisbe, stand forth.

QUINCE

Speak, Pyramus.—Thisbe, come forward.

30

BOTTOM

(as
PYRAMUS) Thisbe, the flowers of
odious savors sweet—

BOTTOM

(as
PYRAMUS) Thisbe, flowers with sweet
odious smells—

QUINCE

“Odors,”
“odors.”

QUINCE

“Odors,”
“odors.”

35

BOTTOM

(as
PYRAMUS)

—odors
savors sweet,

So hath thy breath, my dearest Thisbe dear.

And by and by I will to thee appear.

But hark, a voice!

Stay thou but here awhile,

BOTTOM

(as
PYRAMUS) —odors and smells
are like your breath, my dearest Thisbe dear. But what’s
that, a voice! Wait here a while. I’ll be right
back!

Exit BOTTOM

BOTTOM exits.

ROBIN

(aside) A stranger Pyramus than
e'er played here.

ROBIN

(to himself) That’s the
strangest Pyramus I’ve ever seen.

Exit ROBIN

ROBIN exits.

FLUTE

Must I speak now?

FLUTE

Am I supposed to talk now?

QUINCE

Ay, marry, must you. For you must understand he goes but to see a
noise that he heard, and is to come again.

QUINCE

Yes, you are. You’re supposed to show that you
understand that Pyramus just went to check on a noise he heard and
is coming right back.

40

FLUTE

(as THISBE
) Most radiant Pyramus, most
lily-white of hue,

Of color like the red rose on triumphant brier,

Most brisky juvenal and eke most lovely Jew,

As true as truest horse that yet would never tire.

I’ll meet thee, Pyramus, at Ninny’s
tomb.

FLUTE

(as
THISBE) Most radiant Pyramus, you are
as white as a lily, and the color of a red rose on a splendid
rosebush, a very lively young man and also a lovely Jew. You are as
reliable as a horse that never gets tired. I’ll meet you,
Pyramus, at Ninny’s grave.